Linking NMDA Receptors to Biogenic Amine-based Anxiolytics

Linking NMDA Receptors to Biogenic Amine-based Anxiolytics

In preclinical studies, chronic treatment with biogenicamine– based antidepressants used in the treatment of anxiety disorders blunts NMDA receptor function (Skolnick, 1999). In view of the anxiolytic-like actions of NMDA antagonists in preclinical tests, the body of evidence indicates that NMDA receptors may represent a downstream target for biogenic amine-based antidepressants. While this hypothesis has been used to explain the therapeutic lag associated with biogenic amine-based antidepressants (Skolnick, 1999), it may also contribute to the delay in onset of these serotonin and norepinephrine modulators used to treat anxiety disorders (Figure 12.4).